McCain: Benghazi worse than Watergate

posted at 1:21 pm on October 29, 2012 by Ed Morrissey

When I looked at the slate of guests on the Sunday talk shows yesterday morning, there seemed to be an effort to keep the focus on the election, rather than Benghazi and the shocking lack of action from the US during the seven-hour firefight at our consulate. Only Chris Wallace broached the subject on his own, but on CBS’ Face the Nation, Bob Schieffer had to know that by inviting John McCain to discuss the election and Hurricane Sandy on a segment all to himself, McCain would surely find a way to work the subject into the conversation — and McCain did not disappoint:

Slate notes that McCain used the “W” word — Watergate — in describing “the worst cover-up or incompetence I have ever observed in my life.” The Weekly Standard has a longer quote, sharply criticizing Barack Obama for his lack of candor and seriousness in this scandal, and McCain asks the classic Watergate question:

You know, this administration is very good at touting and giving all the details like when they got Bin Laden. But now, we know that there were tapes, recordings inside the consulate during this fight, and they’ve gotten—they came—the F.B.I. finally got in and took those, and now they’re classified as “top secret.” Why would they be top secret? So the president went on various shows, despite what he said he said in the Rose Garden, about terrorist acts, he went on several programs, including “The View” including “Letterman” including before the U.N., where he continued to refer, days later, many days later, to this as a spontaneous demonstration because of a hateful video. We know that is patently false. What did the president know? When did he know it? And what did he do about it?

Now was McCain alone, as the Weekly Standard reports at more length. While the other talk shows tried to shift focus away from Benghazi, their guests had other ideas. Even Carly Fiorina joined the effort, forcing the issue to the forefront on NBC’s Meet the Press when challenged on the subject of trust:

On the issue of trust, what is going on with regard to Libya? I mean here we have an extraordinary thing where the President comes out on Friday and says I directed that everything possible should be done to aid our embassy under attack. That attack went on for seven hours, we now know that Secretary Of Defense saying he denied requests for help over that seven hours. Where is the leadership? But it’s a trust issue, it’s a trust issue.

It’s a trust issue, all right — and not just for Obama, but for the media that seems to be running interference for him. Kudos, by the way, to Bob Schieffer, who didn’t attempt to change the subject at all once McCain changed it for him, and I suspect didn’t want to change the subject back.

Lie, obfuscate, deny, slow walk, classify, news embargo, ignore, belittle, protect and on and on…. This is what the left is doing. The most heinous act—leaving Americans to die alone on the battlefield, is a treasonous crime, and I do not use that word lightly. Beyond that, what else is there besides murdering them yourself? Over to you Jay Carney….

Either we had an armed drone or an AC130 over Benghazi during the attack…

“According to sources on the ground during the attack, the special operator on the roof of the CIA annex had visual contact and a laser pointing at the Libyan mortar team that was targeting the CIA annex. The operators were calling in coordinates of where the Libyan forces were firing from…”

Perhaps someone above my paygrade can explain this seeming contradiction: As I understand it BO should have been in Situation Room but I heard audio of him saying he was on the phone with his National Security advisors the minute he heard about attack. Why has he not mentioned the Situation Room?

Rush points out Black Five has info that for the laser to be utilized it has to sync to the weapons platform. That this indicates that there were assets in the area.

This is just a taste of what Obama has in sotre for us if he gets that second term and more flexibility.

jukin3 on October 29, 2012 at 1:32 PM

Here’s the transcript from the call & link to Blackfive

“Having spent a good bit of time nursing a GLD (ground Laser Designator) in several garden spots around the world, something from the report jumped out at me.

One of the former SEALs was actively painting the target. That means that Specter WAS ON STATION! Probably an AC130U. A ground laser designator is not a briefing pointer laser. You do not “paint” a target until the weapons system/designator is synched; which means that the AC130 was on station.

Only two places could have called off the attack at that point; the WH situation command (based on POTUS direction) or AFRICOM commander based on information directly from the target area.

If the AC130 never left Sigonella (as Penetta says) that means that the Predator that was filming the whole thing was armed.

If that SEAL was actively “painting” a target; something was on station to engage! And the decision to stand down goes directly to POTUS!”

This is treasonous and Obama should be impeached. Will this happen? Well, that might not be ‘optimal’ but how much more debasement of the Constitution will our elected officials put up with?

Should be, but won’t be. In D.C. debasement of the Constitution is irrelevant as most of the ruling elite don’t seem to mind trampling on it or ignoring it for their own benefit, and politics almost always trumps the right thing to do Constitutionally.

Of course, if the shoe was on the other foot and this was a GOP admin dealing with a Benghazi fiasco, as well as other malfeasance….there would already be a demand to suspend the elections to get impeachment proceedings underway.

The MSM spent four YEARS trying to find something, anything that would prove, however tenuously, that GWB lied to the American people about Iraq. They got nothing, but kept that narriative alive for so long that a large segment of the population believes it.

Here we have ample evidence of a coverup. Evidence that you don’t even have to work very hard to get, and with Barry’s fingerprints all over it to boot. And where’s the MSM? With their heads up Barry’s a**.

Absolutely disgusting. I don’t even have to say “if it were a Republican President,” because previously it was a Republican President. They should be tried for treason. All of ’em.

Either we had an armed drone or an AC130 over Benghazi during the attack…

“According to sources on the ground during the attack, the special operator on the roof of the CIA annex had visual contact and a laser pointing at the Libyan mortar team that was targeting the CIA annex. The operators were calling in coordinates of where the Libyan forces were firing from…”

Going by Udall’s and Warner’s unhelpful aversion to answering Chris Wallace’s questions yesterday as to whether the drones at Benghazi were armed or not, it’s pretty safe to say we know something about the truth there!

Haven’t read those words for a while. He actually is a disappointment on this issue, yet again. If he’s so certain that Benghazi is worse than Watergate then what is he going to do about it? What exactly does McCain do in the Senate other than bloviate on Sunday talk shows?

Don’t look now, but the Admiral in charge of the Stennis strike group, Rear Admiral Gaodette, and the General (Ham) in charge of Africom have been relieved of command and brought home. In Ham’s case, it was because he was going to disobey orders to stand down and assist in Benghazi. Admiral Gaodette’s crime might be the same as it is described as “inappropriate leadership judgement!” Not even Fox is reporting on this yet! Obama is finished if this gets headlines before the election.

What exactly does McCain do in the Senate other than bloviate on Sunday talk shows?

Works well with the other side of the aisle, while backbiting any GOP WH admin. We will again see this from McCain after Romney has been sworn in, maybe even as soon as the Sunday shows the weekend following the election.

“That the administration was helping to arm the worst elements in the region — jihadist rebels also at war with the United States — may explain the administration’s vigorous stonewalling to date. Far from just a diplomatic mission in Libya, the evidence suggests that one of the explicit functions of the U.S. “consulate” was to oversee the transfer of Libyan weapons from the Gaddafi regime’s stockpile, including to the opposition in Syria.

“In short, it seems President Obama has been engaged in gun-walking on a massive scale,” Center for Security Policy president Frank Gaffney explains in the Washington Times. “The effect has been to equip America’s enemies to wage jihad not only against regimes it once claimed were our friends, but inevitably against us and our allies, as well. That would explain his administration’s desperate, and now-failing, bid to mislead the voters through the serial deflections of Benghazigate….”

What can he do about it, other than try and keep it in the public eye? He’s not on the intelligence oversight committee… which is also trying to do something about it, but the White House has stonewalled all the hearings and testimony until, you guessed it, after the election.

Basically, the White House is so in contempt of Congress that nothing short of impeachment will actually work… but so long as there is a Democratic majority in the Senate, articles of impeachment have no hope of actually being upheld. And a failed impeachment attempt would be worse than nothing, because the [bleeping bleep of a bleep] would call it an acquittal.

Don’t look now, but the Admiral in charge of the Stennis strike group, Rear Admiral Gaodette, and the General (Ham) in charge of Africom have been relieved of command and brought home. In Ham’s case, it was because he was going to disobey orders to stand down and assist in Benghazi. Admiral Gaodette’s crime might be the same as it is described as “inappropriate leadership judgement!” Not even Fox is reporting on this yet! Obama is finished if this gets headlines before the election.

Boats48 on October 29, 2012 at 1:47 PM

Give us the links…or don’t continue accusations with no facts…rumors are not facts, even if you really, really, want to believe them.

Mcain and Portman and … who else? At first I understood why Romney passed on this. He botched the 2cnd debate attack(w/help from Crowley) and he had already backed off once after his 1st day criticism of the admins response. Also, the personal story about 1 of the SEALS backfired. His team had messed up the issue for him beyond repair.

Given all that though, He still has 100 surrogates and “rising stars” to speak on this. WHere is Christie, Ryan, Haley, Cantor? Most of the GOP is missing. Mcain might be feeble when it comes to the economy or racial pandering but in these “international” moments he really shines. Why aren’t there more pols making statements?

It’s the GOP’s job to raise the profile of this story. We have 2 parties for just such a tragedy as this. The Dems are never frightened of speaking “truth to power”. Since THe MSM won’t do it and the repubs are wimps we are stuck with this black out.

“Seems to be running interference for him”?!!!!! Even a blind man standing in a darkened room at midnight on a moonless night could see the media has been running interference for Obama since 2008!!!!!

I don’t believe that has been confirmed. Ace’s group did a pretty solid takedown on that story a couple of nights ago. I believe Ham is still in command, unless something has just happened on that score. Of course, he could have been threatened to be relieved of command if he didn’t shape up.

They have other things that are more on peoples minds, that are more important, and they want to win an election.

Also, we have found out if you beat something to death, people get turned off by it, and right now, the news is focusing on the campaign, you are not going to get the MSM to support what Fox is reporting on, Fox is the “enemy”.

They have the internal polls, they know what they need, in these next 7 days, to bring about a victory…and apparently this is just one of the issues…amazing, but most people don’t care right now.

I think he’s ranking member on the Armed Services Committee, which means he’ll be chairman if the GOP takes the Senate. Then he can start having military in to testify about what went down. If Romney/Ryan win, there will be no way for Obama to cover up. Too many witnesses and to many trails of emails, paper and phone records to take care of.

As one commenter noted on another thread, there were other people in the consulate who did get out, but they have not been allowed to speak or have even been identified. One wonders what they would have to say, including about the speculation that Stevens was using the consulate as a front to funnel leftover Libyan arms to Syrian rebels.

“Unfortunately, Romney himself let the Libya issue drop in his third and last debate with Obama. And now, this close to the election, neither Romney nor Ryan should be involved in any “October Surprise” discussion. It’s just too dicey now. The articulation of the “October Surprise” scenario should be handled by respected Republicans, including Rob Portman, John McCain, and Lindsay Graham…”

Don’t look now, but the Admiral in charge of the Stennis strike group, Rear Admiral Gaodette, and the General (Ham) in charge of Africom have been relieved of command and brought home. In Ham’s case, it was because he was going to disobey orders to stand down and assist in Benghazi. Admiral Gaodette’s crime might be the same as it is described as “inappropriate leadership judgement!” Not even Fox is reporting on this yet! Obama is finished if this gets headlines before the election.

There is at present time no direct conformational evidence that General Ham was relieved of his command for refusing to stand down. Nor is their any indication that any evidence that Admiral Gaodette being relieved of his command has anything what so ever to do with Benghazi.

This story is a rumor, it is supported by no empirical evidence and only apparently circumstantial evidence. Which may not be related to the events in question at all.

Yes, serious questions need to be answered. General Ham needs to give a full and complete accounting under oath with regards to exactly what transpired. But the Rumor that he was fired for refusing to stand down only deserve to be mocked and ridiculed.

Thanks to Hotair for keeping this story front and center, right where it belongs. Shame on the “journalists” who are too incompetent and partisan to cover it and kudos to those few that have. It’s going to be a huge battle to get to the whole truth on this tragic event, but it’s a battle that needs to be fought to the end. This administration is worse than anyone could ever have imagined.

IF Obama ever ordered, as Commander-in-Chief, that every thing possible should be done to see that our personnel were safe there would be a paper trail of literally hundreds of copies of that order. WHERE ARE THOSE ORDERS?

Yes, serious questions need to be answered. General Ham needs to give a full and complete accounting under oath with regards to exactly what transpired. But the Rumor that he was fired for refusing to stand down only deserve to be mocked and ridiculed.

SWalker on October 29, 2012 at 1:58 PM

More and more I get the feeling that Gen. Ham had assets ready to go and was denied authority to act. Going on the convo he had with Jason Chaffetz .

Anything beyond that is foolish speculation. I am sure he was none too pleased by having to stand down, though.

The announcement in Stars and Stripes of General Ham’s replacement is dated October 18, 2012…no reason was given..?

d1carter on October 29, 2012 at 2:07 PM

There is a 6 week gape between Sept 11th and Oct 18th. Relieved of command is, exactly that relieved of command. General Ham is still in command of Africom. The Star’s and Stripes notice is a notice of impending retirement, not of an Flag officer being summarily relieved of command.

The MSM spent four YEARS trying to find something, anything that would prove, however tenuously, that GWB lied to the American people about Iraq. They got nothing, but kept that narriative alive for so long that a large segment of the population believes it.

Here we have ample evidence of a coverup. Evidence that you don’t even have to work very hard to get, and with Barry’s fingerprints all over it to boot. And where’s the MSM? With their heads up Barry’s a**.

Absolutely disgusting. I don’t even have to say “if it were a Republican President,” because previously it was a Republican President. They should be tried for treason. All of ‘em.

Bob Schieffer may have had enough of the young tough braggadocios of Obama and his team. He’s been around and remembers what real Democrats like Douglas and Mansfield and O’Neil were like.

MarkT on October 29, 2012 at 1:40 PM

I used to watch Schieffer do the Saturday Evening News. He’d have a little editorial/commentary at the end. During the Clinton/Paula Corbin Jones scandal, Schieffer took issue with the “trailer park trash” slur the Dems were making about Jones.

Schieffer said one’s economic class or the house that one could afford had nothing to do with veracity or integrity. He finished with something like, “I’ve know some fine people who lived in trailers. And some trash who lived in mansions.”

McCain has information none of us have, he is a ranking member of various committees, and he sees the stuff most would never see, as well as being connected to the military.

There only needs to be a few questions, none of the “top secret” to view this case.

First, who gave the orders to “stand down”, not to help the soldiers request for help?

Second, why were these decisions made in the oval office, they have a situation room where the people chosen to make these decisions are, it’s got all the communication, Oval office has none of that…why did they retire to the oval office to make a military decision?

Third, who was in the room when these decisions were being made?

Fourth, did the president give orders to go whatever necessary to ensure the safety of the men…if so, why was it not carried out, and if not, why did he say he did give that order?

Fifth, was the security of Bengahzi ever discussed in a weekly security meeting?

and finally…did we have assets, any assets, that were close by that could have been utilized if given the order?

Nixon lied about and covered up the facts about a cheap two-bit break-in to steal some documents because it might hurt his reelection bid. A break-in that he had did not order, approve, or know about beforehand.

The MSM did not believe Nixon’s denials. It relentlessly covered the story, kept it alive, and pursued it until he resigned.

Obama has lied about and is covering up the facts about a spontaneous protest terrorist attack that murdered a US Ambassador, two ex-Navy SEALS, and another US citizen because it might hurt his reelection bid. A spontaneous protest terrorist attack that might have been prevented or thwarted if the ambassador had the additional security forces he said he needed and requested, but was denied. A seven hour long spontaneous protest terrorist attack he watched on a video feed in real time. And so on and so forth.

The MSM is uninterested. It is not skeptical, suspicious, critical, or curious. Over six weeks later five Sunday morning talking heads shows completely ignored the story.

It’s pretty obvious which is worse. And the MSM is actively aiding and abetting the lies, the coverup, and the deceit this time in several ways.

Lol! The King of the Understatements, Rides again! No Shiite, Sherlock!
The Greatest Betrayal in American History! A Betrayal Worthy of Judas! Watching American Heroes Die as Pres. Judas Denies them Assistance! 4 Deaths that could have and should have been avoided! All just to cover up some psychotic game of “arm the terrorists” the “Butcher of Benghazi”, decided to play, for the sake of bowing to more muslim terrorists!
I’ve got a suggestion for you Juan McLib! How about you stop kissing, Obama Jihadi media backside, long enough to Indict and Perp Walk the Criminal who Betrayed those 4 dead Americans or Retire and let someone who acts like they care do it! All the Public sees from you and the rest of the eSTAB Repubs is more cover for the Butcher of Benghazi, just like you did in Fast & Furious and for the Muslim Brotherhoods Sr. Attache, Huma Weiner Abedin! So, until you want to actually do something and not just give lip service, get lost!
ADDENDUM on how to take on the Obama Jihadi media & Win: http://paratisiusa.blogspot.com/2012/09/an-open-letter-to-those-who-should-know.html?spref=tw

And pal, move on, this is a blog, not some Christian retreat…deal with it, you defended something indefensible, I threw out a crude analogy/allegory or whatever it was, and you took offense and ran to Ed and whined about it…move on pal, you mean nothing to me, I mean nothing to you…next time be more careful, I think I taught you a lesson, be thankful. I’m a blessing to you, I saved you from more ridicule…in the future you will probably build an alter to honor me.

You made a fool of yourself, called me a pedophile and are still butt hurt about it.

SWalker on October 29, 2012 at 2:17 PM

Was that another one of your “sardonic” pieces of humor??

right2bright on October 29, 2012 at 2:22 PM

Here, since you clearly don’t know what the word means.

Adj. 1. sardonic – disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking; “his rebellion is the bitter, sardonic laughter of all great satirists”- Frank Schoenberner; “a wry pleasure to be…reminded of all that one is missing”- Irwin Edman

Having not bothered to read (by your own admission) the article in question it’s obvious that unless you have some special godlike powers you wouldn’t know whether it was sardonic or not, and of course you would have to know what sardonic means in the first place.

You made all of your comments to me, whilst proudly asserting your ignorance of what I had written. I both suggest and request you let this drop, since carrying arguments from one thread to another, like accusing people of pedophilia, is not an accepted practice here.

At either rate, I’m through engaging you. You want to continue making a fool of yourself, that’s your business.